Propelling means for dredging-machines.



L. L., A. D. 6L C. C. CHAPMAN. PROPELLING MEANS FOR DHEDGING MACHINES.APPLICATION FILED Mme. IsIe.

Patented July 25, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

l L. L., A. D. &"C. C. CHAPMAN. PROPELLING MEANS FOR DREGING MACHINES.

APPLfcAnoN FILED JAN. e, |916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented July 25, 1916.

L. L., A. D. & C. c. CHAPMAN. PROPELLING MEANS FOR DREDGIN'G MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED-JAN. 6, 1916. 1 ,1 92,752. A Patented July 25, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

mk Nomm vsrzns no.. :wam-1.11m4 Haumann, a. c.

L. L., A. D. & C. C. CHAPMAN. PROPELLING MEANS F08l DREDGING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.6. 191s.

1 l 92,752., Patented July 25, 1916.

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I `L. L., A. D. L C. C. CHAPMAN. PROPELUNG MEANS FOR DREDGING MACHINES.

v APPucATloN FILED 1-AN.6,1915.

1,192,752. muted 1.11.7125, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- g narran srArns rArnn'r ernten,

LEWIS L. CHAPMAN, ARTHUR D. CHAPIVIAN, AND CARL C. CHAPMAN, OF CELINA,OHIO.

PROPELLING MEANS FOR A'lRIEtEDHING-lVIACI-IIIYIES.

Application led January 6, 1916.

To all fro/'wm it may concern.'

Be it known that we, Lnwis L. CHAPMAN, ARTHUR D. CHAPMAN, and CARL C.CHAP- MAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Celina, in thecounty of Mercer and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Propelling Means for Dredging-Machines; and we dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will en able others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates broadly to improvements in dredging or ditchingmachines and more particularly to those designed primarily for dry landdredging.

The object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed andelicient mechanism whereby the machine may be propelled forwardly orrearwardly at will without the use of driven wheels traveling eitherupon the earth or upon trackways.

lith this general object in view, the invention resides in certain novelfeatures of construction andin unique combinations of parts to behereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter beingsupplemented by the accompanying drawings which constitute a part ofthis application and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an excavating machine constructed inaccordance with the invention; Fig. Q. is a front end view with partsremoved; Fig. 3 is a plan view oi' the supporting frame of the machineand the partscarried thereby; Fig. f1 is substantially a centrallongitudinal section as seen on the planes indicated by the line 4-1 ofFig. 3; Fig. 5 is a top plan view or the propelling mechanism; Fig. 6 isa longitudinal sectional view thereof as seen on the plane indicated bythe line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section taken onthe planes of the line 7 7 of Fig. 6; Fig. I.' is a perspective view ofone of the bearings of the carriage member; and Fig. 9 is a similar viewof a part of one of the supporting legs.

Briefly speaking, the invention comprises a frame 1 rendered portable byfront and rear trucks 2, a carriage member 3 movable longitudinallyalong the frame, one or more inclined leg members l pivoted to thecarriage and capable of being inclined in reverse directions, a footmember 5 to which the lower ends of the leg members are pivot-Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

Serial No. 70,688.

ed, and appropriate means for moving the carriage member 3longitudinally of the frame 1.

Practically the only parts of the frame 1 which are essential to theproper operation of the invention are the two parallel horizontallongitudinally disposed bars 6 which constitute sills upon which all ofthe dredging mechanism is mounted, said sills having their front andrear ends rigidly secured to appropriate pedestals 7 which are prefereably constructed of angle metal but which may vary in design. Thepedestals 7 constitute parts of the trucks 2, the remainderI of saidtrucks being in the form of flat skids 8 pivotally connected to thelower ends of the pedestals 7 and preferably having upturned front andrear ends as' shown.

The bars 6 may be in the form of I-beams as depicted in the presentembodiment of the invention or of any other preferred type, it beingessential, however', that they be so constructed as to providechannelsways 9 extending longitudinally of their inner sides. Thechannel-ways 9 receive therein appropriately designed rollers 10 whichare secured to the opposite ends of transverse rotary axles 11, it beingupon these axles that the carriage member 3 is mounted. The member 3 isshown in the present form of the invention as an elongated beam preferAably constructed of wood and interposed between the bars 6, the oppositeends of said beam being bolted or otherwise secured to horizontal feet12 formed integrally with and extending forwardly and rearwardly fromtransversely disposed channel-shaped bearings 13, these bearingsreceiving therein the axles 11 which are held against removal byappropriate clips 14 embracing the ends of the bearings.

Preferably secured to the lower side of the beam 3 by the same boltswhich anchor the bearings 13 to the upper side thereof, is a pair ofhorizontal plates 15 having depending longitudinally alined ears 16formed integrally therewith, it being between these ears that heads 17are swiveled upon longitudinal axes 18. It is to the heads 17 that theupper ends of the leg members 4 are pivoted upon transverse axes 19.

The leg members 4 are shown as being constructed of upper sections 2Oand lower sections 21 pivoted together upon transverse horizontal rivetsor the like 22, the lower sections 21 being preferably provided with astationary position.

side plates 23 projecting above the pivots 22 as seen most clearly inFig. 7. The projecting upper ends of the plates 23 and the portions ofthe sections 20 therebetween, are

formed with alined bores through which removable pins 24 are normallyinserted, whereby the leg members 4 become rigid structures. However,for reasons yet to be described, said members may be rendered kflexibleby removal of said pins 24.

The foot member 5 may be of practically any preferred construction, butpreferably comprises a pair of longitudinal parallel timbers 25 to whoseunder sides transverse angle-iron cleats 26 are secured, these cleatsbeingl adapted for engagement with the earth to prevent slipping of thefoot member thereon. As clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the lower endsof the sections 2l of the members 4 are provided with laterallyextending journals 27 received rotatably in approximate bearings 28which are bolted cr otherwise secured to the upper sides of 1the timbers25. However, the pivotal connection between the sections 21 and thetimbers in question, might be in any one of a number of forms.

For reasonsl to be hereinafter clearly set forth, it is essential thatsome reliable means be provided for first moving the carriage member 3longitudinally of the frame, and for then shifting said frame upon thecarriage member, while the latter remains in As illustrative of onemanner of accomplishing the required end, drums 29 driven from the powerplant 30 of the machine, are provided, said drums j being adapted towind thereon cables 31 which are trained around sheaves 32 anchored atthe ends of the frame 1, and around other sheaves 33 mounted in slots inthe ends of the beam 3. Thus, when the clutches 34 of said drums areproperly actuated, the power from the plant 30 may be so transmitted tosaid drums as to move the carriage and frame in the manner abovespecified.

The foregoing completes the description of the propelling mechanism ofthe dredge, and it will be obvious that such mechanism might well beapplied to machines of numerous types. However, for illustrativepurposes, a common type of boom carrier 35 is shown, said carrier beingin theform of a horizontally disposed wheel which may be turned at willupon its upright axis by the provision of cables 36 operated by anysuitable means. Connected at its rear end with the carrier 35, is a boom37 carrying a dredging bucket 38 and the usual connections for operatingthe same, such connections being `manipulated in any well known mannerfrom the plant 30.

Used with the parts just described, is a suitablyy braced A-frame 39vrising from the front of the frame 1 and equipped with laterallyextending inclined vertically adjustable spud legs 40, the lower ends ofsaid legs being spaced from the lower end of the A-frame by suitablebars 4l. The vertically movable sections of the legs 40 may be raisedmechanically by any preferred means not shown when the machine is to bemoved forwardly or rearwardly.

When the machine is to be moved forwardly, the leg members are inclineddownwardly and rearwardly as seen in Figs. 4 and 6 and the carriagemember 3 is shifted by its operating means to the front end of the framel. The operating meansV in question is now reversed with the result thatsince the carriage cannot move rearwardly,

the entire machine with the exception ofy said carriage and partsbeneath the same, will be moved forwardly. During this operation, theinclined leg members 4 will'exert a raising tendency on the machineand'will thus prevent excessive friction between the skids 8 and thebottom of the ditch or the like upon which they travel.

If for any reason the machine is tov be moved rearwardly, the pins 24are removed, thereby allowing the foot Q5 to be raised and shiftedforwardly to incline the leg members 4 in the opposite direction. Vilhenthe pins 24 are now again inserted, the machine may be shifted asstated.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it will be obvious that although the improvedfeatures of construction employed are comparatively simple andinexpensive, they will be highly eflicient and durable and will fulfil along felt need in the art'to which the invention relates. In conclusion,we wish to state that we have shown and described certain specificfeatures of construction for illustrative purposes, but that we donot-wish to be unduly limited thereto, since within the scope of theinvention as claimed, numerous changes may be made withoutV sacrificingthe primary advantages thereof.

We claim l. In combination, a frame, trucks supporting the same, acarriage member movable longitudinally along said frame, a leg memberpivoted at its upper end to the carriage member and capable withoutdetachment of being inclined downwardly toward either the front or therear end of the frame, an earth engaging foot member to which the lowerend of the leg member is pivoted, and means for moving the carriagelongitudinally along the frame at will.

2. In combination, a frame, trucks supporting the same, 'a carriagemembermovable longitudinally along said `frame an inclined leg memberpivotedto and depending from said carriage member, said leg memberlhaving between its ends a joint for allowing it to be moved to reverseits direction of inclination, an earth engaging foot to which the lowerend of the leg member is pivoted, and means for moving the carriavemember longitudinally of the frame at wil.

3. In combination, a frame, trucks sup porting the same, a carriagemember movable longitudinally along said frame, an inclined leg memberpivoted to and depending from said carriage member, said leg memberbeing formed of upper and lower sections pivoted together to allow it tobe so moved as to reverse its direction of inclination, means fornormally imparting rigidity to the pivotal connection between the twoleg sections, an earth engaging foot member' to which the lower end ofthe leg member is pivoted, and means for moving the carriage memberlongitudinally along the frame at will.

4. In combination, a frame having a pair 'of parallel longitudinal barschanneled longitudinally on their inner sides, a longitudinally disposedbeam between the aforesaid bars, rollers mounted in the channels of saidbars and connected by transverse axles carrying the aforesaid beam,front and rear inclined leg members pivoted to and depending from thefront and rear ends of said beam, a longitudinally elongated earthengaging foot member to whose front and rear ends the lower ends of thefront and rear leg members are pivoted, and means for moving theaforesaid beam longitudinally at will.

5. In combination, a frame including a pair of parallel longitudinaltracks, rollers mounted on said tracks, transverse axles connecting saidrollers, transversely elon- 40 posed beam secured to said feet, frontand rear inclined leg members pivoted to and depending from the oppositeends of said beam, an elongated earth engaging foolt member to whosefront and rear ends the lower ends of the leg members are pivoted,

and means for moving the aforesaid beam longitudinally at will.

6. In combination, a portable frame, a carriage member movablelongitudinally thereof, means for moving said carriage member at will,an inclined leg member pivoted to and depending from said carriagemember, transverse journals carried by the lower end of said leg member,bearings receiving said journals therein, a pair of parallellongitudinally disposed earth engaging bars to which said bearings aresecured, and transverse cleats secured to the lower sides of said bars.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

LEWIS L. CHAPMAN. ARTHUR D. CHAPMAN. CARL U. CHAPMAN.

Witnesses:

CMRENCE D. RICE, HERBERT W. SOHNIDLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

